Thursday, June 21, 2007

Spiderweed to the rescue

A few days ago, I was bit by a spider, on my stomach. I'm not sure if it was a highly radioactive crazy mutant spider though, because my special powers have SO not kicked in yet.

Today, I tried to climb a wall, nope. Tried to lasso my pop can w/ my web - nothing.

I swear though, with the amount of bug bites that I have had in my life, it's a wonder that I'm not some super-powered-insect. I've been 'mauled' by mosquitos & attacked by arachnids... When I was younger, I even digested some ants. Yet, I am not one w/ the insect world.

However, if I had super powers, I would totally fly. I've always said this in all of those silly quizzes that you get emailed. I would FLY. I don't care to see through walls, it would be cool to have Transformer abilities, and maybe super sensitive hearing, or eyesight. But how cool would it be to just run, jump and fly.

At the end of the day though, it would be kind of a hassle, always being chased by adoring fans, put in the newspaper, always 'on call' - - a lot like my life right now, I kid, I kid.

What super powers would you want? Besides the ones you all already have :)

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

sad

Today I covered a memorial service for two area college students that died in a car accident Saturday. These events are always tough, but today's - I will never forget.

It is my goal, while covering a funeral or anything of the like, to try to be completely invisible. I'm not there to get up close and personal - i'm there to be an observer and hopefully grab a couple of telling photos.

I was standing outside the back entrance of the room, where there was standing room only. Next to a photo display of the two students.
A little girl walks out of the room, holding a stuffed kitty, with (an adult) in tow. She runs to the photo display and grabs one off of the table, that was in a frame. So saddened by everything, she lays down on the floor, with her face resting on the picture. She's crying, (and i'm about 4 feet away) and cannot be consoled. Soon, the words "I want my daddy back" come out of her mouth, over and over. Not loud, not whiny - but genuinely heart broken. Unable to fully comprehend what happened, what's going on - she just knows that she's never going to see her daddy again.

It was honestly the most real moment I've ever had in my career. Watching, hearing, this little girl express herself the only way she knew how.

The picture frame was put back onto the table, wet from her tears for only a moment, then they dried. It's just something i'll never forget.

The message of the day was 'tell people that you love them'.

I will not miss this opportunity to tell you - I LOVE YOU ALL. :)

Monday, June 18, 2007

Boys.

These are a few photos I took of my friend's boys. :)






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Bow down

At a family reunion in April, or May - family told me that they had researched that my mom's side has family ties to royalty in Norway.

I did a little bit of research. My cousin told me that she has the documentation. There are seven main families that are the 'founders' we shall say of Royalty in Norway.

More information to come. :) I always knew I was royal... hahahaha, ha ha ha.

Laura.

Urban Legends

After celebrating a friends birthday in Sioux Falls Saturday night, I was driving back to my parents house, (to wake up and celebrate fathers day w/ my family).
I got off of the interstate and as I always do - took the last 4 miles of gravel road to get to my parents house on the edge of town.
Coming my way was a car in the middle of the road with its bright lights on. While I was still a ways away, I flickered my brights at him one time, to let him know that his brights were on. The car then 'whips around' and speeds up to me...following w/in a a foot or two the rest of the way into town.
It follows me to my parents house, I pull in the driveway (mind you, it's 2 a.m. - no one is up). The car stops at the end of my driveway, turns off it's lights - sits there. I stay in my car, I am NOT moving.
They pulled ahead about 20 feet, as they were in motion, I bolted out of my car and into the house, locking all doors behind me.
I didn't turn on any of the lights, so they couldn't see where I was. They were sitting right outside my house so I called the cops.
Police showed up, the car had moved ahead, and then out of sight. The cops talked to me and got my side of the story - I was kind of freaked out.

This all reminded me of an urban legend. Here's a link to some popular urban legends on Snopes.
http://www.snopes.com/

Monday, June 11, 2007

I win.

Hello All.
I know it has been a while.

Today I got my year-review. My two-year anniversary, was May 16th - and I just got it, today, June 10, but that is another story.

A lot of my last post still applies.

But today, in my year-review my boss had about 10 positive things to say about me, and 2 negative things.
Negative:
1. My attitude, I need to work on not acting so overwhelmed.
2. Organization - need to file photos so people know where to find them when I am gone.

I addressed the 'attitude' comment, we talked about it - and I let him see my point of view. (the attitude adjustment is what he was referring to in my last post.)

Positive:
1. Hard-working, friendly, easy to work w/
2. Outstanding photographer
3. Knows her job and knows how to get things done on time or early.
4. Patient - able to work w/ sensitive assignments
5. Writing skills have improved
(and there were a few more) :)

He said he 'Wouldn't trade me for anything', 'I belong here', 'I am a perfect fit for the newsroom', and 'i'm the best photographer he's seen at the paper for the last 15 years'.

But the icing on the cake follows. We did this whole series of special sections last summer. I spent hundreds & hundreds of hours taking photos of these veterans.
We got the judges comments back from recent contests, he was expecting them to commend him on all of his hard work, his great idea, his leadership, his knowledge etc etc --- instead, in the 1/2 page area allotted for judges' comments it said 2 words.

"Photos - Wow!"

hahahahahahaha! I win.

Friday, May 25, 2007

So upset.

My boss was so out of line today.
First, he gives me this story - that it took the intern 40+ hours to do (last summer). He assigns it to me, and i'm gone most of the day every day. This is the type of tedious assignment that requires you to be be BY THE PHONE at all times.
I got called into his office, and he totally yelled at me . "So, are you over worked? Well, I know for a fact that you are not because I know everything you do." NOT TRUE!!!!!!!!! "(Other) co-workers have a lot to do as well, but no one gives me this 'overworked' tone like you do. You're the only one who ever makes a big deal about it."

Who is he talking about?
The person that he can call at 7 a.m. because he forgot about an assignment and send me SCRAMBLING w/ less than 10 minutes to drive over there and get it.
He's the person who NEVER LISTENS, if you aren't saying "Yes, yes yes yes, everything is ok" he takes it so personally, and stops listening altogether.
So disorganized.

out of line.
I didn't say one word about the crappy assignment, until they started ASKING FOR IT, and I still had 16 (parts) left because I wasn't getting any fucking help with it!

"It's like he's saying, HEY MAKE SURE YOU GET 8 hours worth of office work done all day every day, but since I am so disorganized - I'm going to send you out on the road for at least 1/2 of your day each day and still expect you get get all of this bullshit done. AND, if you come in to ask me a question about anything, i'm going to automatically assume that you are complaining - so I am going to be very short and very rude with you every day until you get this pain in the ass assignment done."


FUCK FUCK FUCK. I need a new job!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

AN IN

I have an 'in' at the place that I want to work for! I just realized that a fellow college-mate works there, this is so unbelievably exciting. Now he can see if they a. have an opening b. are worth working for (which is sounds like they are) and c. put in a good word for me!


YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYA!
This discovery was made tonight while I was working on my portfolio. Thanks to all who have given me suggestions, i'm sure i'll include you all when it's all done. :)

All I know, is that the time for change is now. I have been praying, and I consider this a pretty clear 'sign.'

L

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

How I nearly punched an 8-year-old

Ok, i'm kidding, kind of.
This evening, I was at an excruciatingly boring assignment for work. In the balcony, where I was stationed - there was a little kid who would clap longer than everyone else - just to be for lack of a better word - annoying. Each time (at this awards ceremony). It was distracting, so naturally, I ended up looking up there three or four times, sending mind bullets her way.
She saw me look up there, and apparently didn't like it. The very next moment, the arm rest from the chair she was sitting in was hurled at me, and it hit the wall next to me w/ a loud thud. I was so embarrassed, I got up and told the person in charge upstairs, and left the room.

The kid, a girl, followed me.
She followed me downstairs and into the main room, where she was distracting other people.

I didn't see her for a while. I went to the bathroom. While I was in the bathroom, the door opens, someone enters, and two little feet stand out in front of the stall that I was in.
Me: "yes?"
Her: mocking me: "Yeees?"

Then, she turns, and runs - flipping the light switch off on the way out. So there, in pitch black, I maneuvered my way to the light-switch but she was gone.

I went back into the hallway, and she was standing nearby. She walked right up to me and said "How did you like that?" It was said really loud and just mean.. for lack of a better word. There were just enough people out in the hall, that I didn't want to make a scene.

I replied:
"Do I know you?"
She replied, again mocking me:
"Do I knoooow yuuu?"

I think then she actually cackled and flew off on her broom. I didn't see any more of her until she was walking to the car w/ her parents. Where the H were they during this whole thing?
I'm so weirded out by this.

Just a brat. Maybe she thought I was someone else, I have never seen her before in my life.

Sunday, May 6, 2007

"Another cow" / "No actually I think that's the same one"

"we have debris", Twister

Above (about the cows) is my favorite quote from the movie Twister.

Yesterday, I was like Helen Hunt, only I didn't have Dorothy in the backseat of my truck - and sadly no Bill Paxton. However, I was prepared to take my belt and wrap it around a pipe if need be, then I would be safe! hehe.

Friday night began with a bang, shall we say. Tornadoes ripped through the towns nearby destroying 3 farms. Saturday, my objective was to go to these farms, get photos and the story and go cover everything else that I had planned for the weekend.

I got up at 7:30, and got on the road. I was at the scene of the major damage by 8, and took photos of people trying to put their life back together. While at that scene, learned that places were flooding all over the county, and that the exact same area was in another tornado watch until 7 p.m. (later, they would get hit again with a tornado)

Left around 12:30 to scurry to a graduation ceremony.

After the ceremony, a friend and I went to grab some food. We had just sat down with our food when I got a call reporting at least 3 tornadoes headed this way, or already on the ground close by. So we bolted over to another friends house who has a basement, and a police scanner :)

I was sent out after those passed through to get photos of damage all over the area, putting in a total of 15 or so hours yesterday.
And today, that is what I will do again. I'm off to find a person's plane that flipped over on it's top.

No reported injuries, we really are the lucky ones, as I sit here watching CNN seeing the towns that were completely flattened.

Hope everyone is safe, dry, and fed :)

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

No more wondering.

The job that I had applied for his been filled.

This is ok. But I was really getting excited about it, couldn't shut-up about it. It's all that I really thought about - and poof gone.

This is a new experience for me.
Throughout college, jobs stuck to me - at any given moment I had 4-5 jobs.
Found my current job 5 months before graduating, easy as pie.

Now, my journey continues - it is kind of free-ing in a way.
Realistically, I'm more able to move in the late summer, so that is my new focus.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Oops....

So recently, I was checking how much it would cost to move cross country.
Specifically - from here to Georgia, just in case ;)

I went to a popular moving company's website to get a quote. They had me fill out a form w/ my info on it. The only way to get a 'quote' was to be contacted by a representative.

However -since this is a reputable company, that everyone has heard of - I didn't mind one bit.
That was last night.

This morning, I woke up with 96 spam emails from every moving co. in the country.
By noon, I had 8 voicemails on my phone.
I recieved a spam email every 5 minutes for most of the day.

I was like WTF!?! So I went back to the website to investigate, and at the way bottom of the page, in small print, there is a little box that says : "Do you want us to share your information w/ our affiliates" - and it is automatically checked.

Well, I did not see that - and that is why I got flooded w/ SPAM.
That's a BIG OOPS on my part!

The moral though, is that it is crazy expensive to move across the country. All of the jobs that I (have) applied for do not offer relocation assistance. So that will be part of a negotiation, and we will cross the bridge when it comes, if it comes :)

Happy Tuesday.

Friday, April 20, 2007

This weekend

I am going to be shooting a wedding in Huron this weekend, I am excited! I have not shot a wedding for a while now and it is fun ;) Don't think I'll ever do 5 in a month again - but it was an experience.

Still no word from the HFH people on whether or not I can apply.
Pray for me!

:) Have a good weekend.
Looks like we will be getting some storms this wkd. fun fun.

Oh, and for those of you who didn't realize - today is 4/20 - National Pot Smoker's Holiday.
Here is an exerpt from an office conversation yesterday:

R: "Do you think congress will hold a special joint session?"
K: "What was that? I'm just working on this token story."
A: "Hey you two - do I need to come in there and hash it out?"
R: "Doo-by quiet, people are trying work."

Ah, journalists.
Well anyway - Happy April 20th. The stupidest reason for any sort of holiday, I must admit.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Butterflies

This fall a few friends and I went to the butterfly house in SF. So much fun, so pretty. Looking at these photos just makes me happy.

I am applying for a different job.
I have enlisted the best of friends to help get the cover letter ready.
I will click SEND today!

















My girls


My sister's kids, Katrina, left, and Alyson.
All together now... awwwww :)


I think it is going to rain today.

I believe it is going to rain today. Mr. Cable on the news is telling me that the best time for rain will be after 4 p.m. this afternoon.
At 4:45, our company was planning to take a group picture outside of the building. (I am not taking it) but I wonder if it will be cancelled on account of rain..... to do my hair or not, that is the question.

Speaking of weather - April in S.D. marks the unofficial beginning of STORM SEASON. I spoke to the County Emergency Manager yesterday and he said that I am welcome to ride along w/ the guys as they go storm spotting/chasing and get some photos. I'm so excited.

Like Bob said, if there was a way that I could hook up something so I could actually BE inside the tornado, that would be ideal for me. :)

Hope all is well with all of you.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Avo

(a post from earlier this month)
Tonight, I went to Avo.
That's short for Avon, S.D.

One night, during football season - to save time - a sports reporter that works with me was writing down scores from the area games and on one line it said : Avo: 15 Scotland: 7

As though, shortening the word Avon was going to shave a bunch of time for him. :)
Almost as useful as abbreviating April....(and there are others).
It now is an office inside joke.
Well, here are some photos that I got from Avo.







































































Tuesday, April 17, 2007

An illusion of epic proportions!

We have all been decieved! The washington monument is just an optical illusion

:) I kid, I kid.

Today was interesting. I stayed up way to late piddling around on my computer and watching tv. Got up early to go to my final physical therapy session, work, went to a train derailment and was wading around in mud up past my knees! The rest of the day was pleasantly uneventful.

It really is georgeous outside, so off i go.
Hope you all are well, thank you for your comments! :)
check back soon, and often.

It's in the mail....

I made these Christmas post-cards. I spent a LOT of time on them - and I only gave out a few of them. Mailing them was just too difficult, I guess. I'm awful at that though.
At some point this year - you'll probably get a postcard from me, with a Christmas message..... :)
I got to thinking.
I want a blog where I can tell the rest of the story.

I have my (website) - but I want this blog to be a little less, visible by the public shall we say :)

I loved blogging daily when I was in college - but the busier I got, the less I posted something. It's really theraputic for me, and I love telling stories of my crazy life.
So - drumroll please - let's try this again.


I want to post a random photo either - daily, almost daily, weekly, or at least w/ every post... :) I'll try!!






Title: I wish I was a fish.

This is a photo that I took recently while I was waiting to gain access to a trailer fire. This 'fisheye' view created by the spotlight on the Sheriff's vehicle. Much more economically feasible than the $900 fisheye lens :)